Pocono wildlife group: Let wild animals be wild

Thursday

As spring continues to draw more people outdoors and baby wild animals are being born, the odds of people coming into contact with wildlife rises.

As spring continues to draw more people outdoors and baby wild animals are being born, the odds of people coming into contact with wildlife rises.

What should be done when a young animal is found all alone? Luckily for residents of the Poconos and the Lehigh Valley, Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is available to help creatures that become orphaned or injured.

There are only seven wildlife rehabilitators in all of Pennsylvania which are licensed to work with RVS or "rabies vector species", which include raccoons, groundhogs, skunks, foxes, coyotes and bats. These animals are more likely than other mammals to catch and transmit rabies than others. As youngsters, these creatures have a "cuteness factor" which causes people react to these animals in ways that may jeopardize their own health and safety.

Just recently, a family found two baby raccoons in Crawford County. Unable to find a licensed wildlife center to provide care, the family kept the babies in their home and handled them. After three days, they called the state Game Commission which collected and euthanized the baby raccoons, one of which tested positive for rabies. Seven people and an unvaccinated dog were exposed to the raccoon. The people are receiving treatment and the dog will be quarantined for 180 days. Had they not been turned over, the story could have had a dire outcome for the people involved.

Caring about animals has its rewards but it should never be at the cost of human health and safety. If you find a wild animal you believe is in trouble, call the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center or the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Never handle wildlife with bare hands. Every year people walk through our doors with animals in the hands of children, petting and even kissing them.

Rabies is only one concern. Fleas, ticks, mites and lice infest some animals and diseases like tularemia, leptospirosis and dermatophilosis can be contracted from being in contact with them. In addition, wild animals are afraid of predators, and we are included in that category. Holding an animal may seem to calm them, but in fact, causes a freeze response from intense fear in many species.

The PWREC is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that cares for wildlife in need of help, prevent disease and injury to people, and provide education for the community. Without support from the businesses and individuals in our area, incidents like the one that occurred in Crawford County are more likely to happen here. For information about the wildlife center or to make a donation, visit poconowildlife.org or visit our Facebook page.

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